Benzyl Alcohol
Benzyl alcohol
- Role
- A preservative and solvent that can also be part of the fragrance.
- Catalog formulas
- 31
- Type
- Stability
- Verified
- 06.11.2026
What does this ingredient do in an antiperspirant?
Its CosIng functions are preservative, solvent, viscosity controlling and perfuming. As a preservative it protects the formula against microbial growth.
Part of a system, not a label in isolation
In an antiperspirant or deodorant it helps keep the product microbiologically stable and dissolves other ingredients. It has no effect on sweating.
In the EU it is allowed as a preservative up to 1% in the finished product (Annex V, entry 34). For other purposes it falls under Annex III (entry 45), and as a fragrance allergen it must be listed above 0.001% in leave-on and 0.01% in rinse-off products.
The 2012 SCCS opinion lists it as an established contact allergen in humans, with 11 to 100 positive patch-test reactions reported.
Not ethyl alcohol (Alcohol Denat.): it is an aromatic alcohol with different properties, and its presence does not make a formula alcohol-based.
Products containing Benzyl Alcohol
Links are based on the complete published INCI list for the exact product version.
Sources
The conclusions apply to the stated conditions and jurisdictions, not automatically to every concentration or product.
- CosIng Checker: Annex V, entry 34 (Benzyl Alcohol) Supports: maximum preservative concentration
- CosIng Checker: Annex III, entry 45 (Benzyl Alcohol) Supports: restrictions, allergen labelling
- INCI Beauty: Benzyl Alcohol (CosIng functions) Supports: function
- SCCS/1459/11: Opinion on fragrance allergens in cosmetic products Supports: allergenicity assessment